Sellers and agents won;t take you seriously as a buyer without mortgage pre-approval. And making an offer without it can cause major embarrassment.

Buying a house and want to see serious returns when you sell? Then head west. According to a new forecast, homes in Washington and Nevada will appreciate the most in the next year.

How can you keep your second home repaired and maintained and repaired from a distance?

Check a rent vs buy calculator when considering renting vs buying. See how the numbers work out upfront and over the long term.

Credit score ranges determine how creditors, insurers and even employers look at you. What is a good credit score, and how can you get there?

Rising house prices and a lack of starter home inventory has made things difficult for today’s first-time homebuyers, but according to new data, there are still some places where first-timers can get a deal. The No. 1 best place? That’d be Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

Being clear to close (CTC) means you have satisfied all the lender's requirements and can get your loan documents and close any time.

Millennials now make up the biggest share of homebuyers in the country, but their credit is far from perfect. In fact, according to new data, average credit scores of Millennial homebuyers ranged from 662 to upwards of 750, depending on the city.

What's more important for a mortgage: income or credit scores? Both, but even people who earn a lot of money can't get a loan without decent credit. Here's why.

You will encounter mortgage underwriting conditions at almost every step of the mortgage process. But being prepared in advance can minimize the number of requests, and the hassle of meeting them.

Home remodeling isn't always easy, and financing home improvements can be intimidating. But it's not that hard -- you don't even need home equity to do it.

The most confusing mortgage disclosures are no longer completely awful to navigate. Actually, they are pretty easy, once you understand a couple of things.

Which home improvement projects can you do yourself, and which should you hire out?

How do you know that you're getting a good house when buying a home? Look at marketability, safety, and functionality, and get professional help when you need it.

Out of state moves are on the rise and according to a new analysis, Washington, D.C., North Dakota and Wyoming are the top destinations. A whopping 9.1 percent of D.C.’s current population moved from another state in within the last five years.

A home inspection can find a home's hidden defects before you buy it. Here's what to expect on your report, and how to read it.

Home prices might be up, but rents aren’t any better. In fact, according to new data, the average rents clocked in at $1,405 last month--the country’s highest rents of all time.

Putting your home on the market? Selling a house for a client this summer? According to a recent study, certain outdoor features can help you do — and get more money in the process.

To buy a home, you need an offer and acceptance. Here's how to finalize your offer to purchase a home.

Today's mortgage rates are low, but you can get an even more affordable mortgage with a few adjustments to your mortgage borrower profile.